Four goals = three points

FT: Bradford Park Avenue 24 Tamworth

01 November 2014

Tamworth made the longish trip to Bradford after Tuesday night’s extra time and penalties defeat to Southport to take on Bradford Park Avenue for the first time in the club’s histories.With The Lambs having played 190 minutes in the last seven days it was stark contrast to the Avenue side who last played a competitive match on fortnight previously (Oct 18).The Lambs were becoming renowned for their ability to draw away from home having got a point from seven of their nine games on their travels in the Vanarama Conference North this season and it was the lack of wins coupled with the lack of goals that saw the Lambs start the game at 20th in the table, compared to Avenue’s 17th, four points ahead.

The home team got things underway with Tamworth sporting a freshly sponsored blue away top and the first chance fell to Jackson who shot right footed but bent his shot the wrong way past the far post and then on 5 Marshall struck from the edge of the area but Belshaw was happy for the ball to go past the left hand upright.Jackson forced a corner on the right on 9 but the ball went out past the far post from a header and failed to trouble Danby in the home goal.When Daniels was upended on 10, he took the deadball himself from 25 yards to the right of the D and to make up for the disappointment of the off target shot, when Thornton took the ball into the box down the right and forced Danby to save, he followed up the keeper’s parry with a square ball that Daniels slotted home from a few yards out. (1-0, 13 mins)But it was all square on 17 when Chilaka got the best of the Lambs defence and slipped through into the box and side footed into the right of the net off the post to bag the equaliser. (1-1, 17 mins) Green was forced off the field on 20 to be replaced by Vidal.Thornton found some space down the centre on 25 and fed Jackson who in turn backheeled to Daniels but his shot was parried by Danby and headed away from danger.Styche had his first real attempt on goal on the half hour, with a right footed shot that curled away and past the far post from the left of the area.The Lambs went close on 34 from a corner on the right and Townsend reeled away with his head in his hands as Danby smothered the ball.A debut goal came for Styche on 37 with a shot on the turn from 12 yards out that sneaked into the bottom left corner after good play from Thornton down the center once again to make it 2-1 to the Lambs.A fantastic strike by Jackson, right footed into the top right hand corner, was justly deserved after he battled through the midfield to hit it from 25 yards and make it 3-1 on 39 mins.A freekick from Thornton on 42 took a massive deflection off the wall to make Danby’s dive look meaningless in an amusing way and the home side cleared the flagkick from the near post.Belshaw was forced into a save by Preistleyt’s right footed angles strike on 44 and two minutes added time were shown at the end of the half.Daniels made it two for him and four for Tamworth in added time after a quick break from some home pressure from a corner that saw the ball reach Styche and he, in turn, slipped across the box for Daniels to strike it past Danby for 4-1.

HT: Bradford Park Avenue 14 Tamworth

Tamworth restarted proceedings but the home side tried hard to take the initiative in the early exchanges and pulled a goal back on 51 when Qualter headed home from a few yards out from a right sided corner, into the corner nearest the flag kick. (4-2)Styche needed treatment after dropping to the floor on 61 and from a right sided throw on 62 Qualter got his head to the ball only to see Belshaw produce a great save and push it around the post.Thornton set Jackson free down the right on 63 but the home defence prevented his cross ad Thornton took two corners in quick succession before a third came for Daniels to put onto the head of Vidal, but he directed it high over the target.Heaton picked up a yellow card for a late tackle on sub Adams on 72 down the right wing and Thornton put the deadball straight into the hands of Danby.On 75Townsend then tangled with Chilaka as he tried to go through the middle into the D at the edge of Belshaw’s box and received a booking.From the freekick Belshaw had to stand strong to block Black’s powerful low driven deadball and Deacey forced another good stop from Belshaw from his right footed shot 25 yards out.Barraclough tried his luck with a right footed effort on 81 but Belshaw was happy to watch it go past the right hand post by a few feet and on 84 Deacey lifted a shot from 18 yards into the keeper’s hands as Avenue enjoyed more of the play.Styche was booked for a foul in front of the Lambs dugout on 85 and from the freekick a melee of who could kick the ball first ensued before a the ball popped out and a long range shot deflected away. Belshaw was called upon to smother a shot from 18 yards as the clock ticked down and inside the three minutes added time he was happy to watch Colley’s shot go past his far post and the final whistle blow on the first away win of the season.